Defending champ Wheldon has driving passion for Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Dan Wheldon loves a challenge, and the idea of winning the Indianapolis 500 for a second straight year – and with a new team – has the Englishman excited.

“It’s obviously a race I’m extremely passionate about,” Wheldon said. “I was interested as to how I would be coming back as a defending champion, from a motivational standpoint. But, having been a winner in 2005, feeling and seeing what it’s done for me, both personally and to everybody else around it, it makes you more determined to win.

“I’m going to do everything in my possible power to make it happen.”

First, though, there is the little matter of waiting out the incessant rain that has hovered over this city for nearly a week.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” Wheldon said Saturday, hours before the first round of time trials for the May 28 race officially was postponed by rain until Sunday. “But everybody is in the same boat. I know everybody has more work to do, just like we do.”

Wet weather has either shortened or washed out every practice session since the track opened on Tuesday. Now, instead of trying to qualify the top 11 for the 33-car field on the first day, officials hope to get 22 cars qualified on Sunday.

The rest of the field will be determined in additional qualifying next weekend.

When the cars have been able to get on track, it’s been the Dallara-Hondas of Marlboro Team Penske teammates Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves that generally have set the pace.

Wheldon, who switched from Andretti Green Racing to Target Chip Ganassi over the winter – despite winning six races and the IRL IndyCar Series title with AGR in 2005 – and new teammate Scott Dixon have been close behind the Penske drivers in what appears to be a developing rivalry.

Wheldon beat Castroneves and Hornish, who finished 2-3, in the season opener at Homestead, Fla.. In the second race, at St. Petersburg, Fla., Castroneves beat Dixon. Then, in Japan, Castroneves held off Wheldon for the victory.

Here, it’s been more of the same.

On Thursday, the last time drivers were able to put in any time on the 2.5-mile oval, Hornish firmly established himself as the pole favorite with a simulated four-lap qualifying run averaging better than 226 mph, topped by a 226.789.

But Wheldon also managed to get up to 226.088, keeping his top rival at least in sight. And both Castroneves and Dixon were among the fastest drivers during the week.

Somehow, growing up in Emberton, England, Wheldon kindled a passion for the 500. Winning the race was his total focus from the moment he began racing professionally.

“It’s a fantastic race,” he said. “I think it brings the best out of everybody. But, for me personally, having won it, I think it’s given me a lot more confidence, perhaps not just at the racetrack but I think everywhere.”

Now, the idea of winning a pole here has Wheldon almost as fired up as winning the race again.

“Hornish has been very quick, but I can guarantee I’m going to magic something from somewhere just on pole day,” Wheldon said, grinning. “Both Scott and I have come here with a brand new chassis specially for this race.

“Chip has been kind enough to let the guys back at the shop work many, many hours on it. I think that goes to show you the commitment and dedication of the people back at the shop. We owe it to them to make sure we deliver, and we’ve definitely got the capabilities of doing that.”

Ganassi, who won here as a team co-owner with Emerson Fittipaldi in 1989 and as sole owner with Juan Montoya in 2000, had down years in 2004 and 2005 after Dixon won the IRL title the previous year.

But now his team is resurgent, and he gives a lot of the credit to Wheldon.

“You know, it’s difficult to put into words the amount of energy that Dan has brought to the team this season,” Ganassi said.

And the team owner remains just as passionate about Indy as his new driver.

“What would it mean to win here again?” Ganassi repeated, answering the question. “It would mean a hell of a lot of good for a lot of people. That’s what we’re here to do. That’s why we come here.”